Circle has taken a major step in its global expansion strategy by securing a full Financial Services Permission (FSP) license from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).
The approval formally positions Circle as a regulated money services provider within one of the world’s most advanced digital finance jurisdictions, giving the USDC issuer a powerful gateway into the broader Middle East and Africa region.
A Regulated Foundation for USDC in the UAE
The newly granted license provides Circle with the regulatory clarity and operational legitimacy needed to scale USDC’s role in payments, settlements, and financial infrastructure across the United Arab Emirates. Operating under ADGM oversight means adhering to stringent rules around transparency, risk management, and consumer protection, standards aligned with the region’s goal of becoming a global hub for digital assets.
With this framework in place, businesses, developers, and financial institutions in the UAE can now integrate USDC with greater confidence, opening the door to faster settlement networks, improved cross-border payment rails, and more efficient onchain financial services.
Leadership and Partnerships Strengthening the Push
To drive growth in the region, Circle has appointed Dr. Saeeda Jaffar as Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa. Her background as Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for the GCC at Visa signals Circle’s intent to operate at the highest strategic and institutional level within the region’s financial ecosystem.
The license also builds on Circle’s earlier work, including its in-principle approval from April 2025 and its partnership with Lulu Financial Holdings, which focuses on modernizing remittances and cross-border payment flows, one of the UAE’s most active financial corridors.
A Strategic Move in Circle’s Global Expansion
Circle’s presence in the ADGM aligns with the company’s broader strategy to establish itself in regions actively building the next generation of financial infrastructure. The UAE continues to position itself as a forward-thinking digital finance hub, and Circle’s regulatory approval reinforces USDC’s credibility as a compliant, enterprise-ready stablecoin solution.
The license marks another step in Circle’s shift toward deep institutional integration, not just within the U.S. and Europe, but across emerging global markets where stablecoins are reshaping payment systems and accelerating adoption of the onchain economy.